Hinge having self-closing feature



March 11, 1969 J. BEREZNAK 3,431,587

HINGE HAVING SELF-CLOSING FEATURE Filed Jan. 12, 1967 Sheet of 2 lira. 11

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Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-closing hinge structure having a pair of leaves. A spring rod having ends engaging knuckle parts of one of the leaves and having a central portion anchored to the other of the leaves. The ends of the spring rod exerting contact forces on the knuckle parts tending to close the hinge leaves.

Brief summary of invention This invention relates to cabinet hardware, and particularly to hinge structures having a latch feature whereby the provision of a separate cabinet latch is obviated.

Builders are becoming increasingly aware of the time that finish carpenters take in installing pulls, latches, hinges, etc. Consequently, hinges having self-closing or self-latching features are becoming increasingly popular even though hinges of this general type have been known for many years. One popular type of device utilizes a cam latch surface formed along the knuckle of one hinge element and a spring pressed roller unit mounted by the other hinge element. In order to achieve the requisite closing torque, the spring is necessarily strong. This creates a problem in assembly. Thus the spring must be compressed and held in a retracted position before the hinge leaves are pinned together. Another problem is that the spring, even if disposed generally parallel to the hinge axis, necessarily occupies a certain space. In order to conceal such devices, the hinge structure is ordinarily bulky.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a unique self-closing hinge structure so designed that the spring can be readily installed after the hinge parts are assembled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unique self-closing hinge structure capable of exerting the requisite high forces but which is nevertheless sufficiently small as to be accommodated without undue enlargement of the hinge parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a selfclosing hinge of this character that requires no special housing recesses for the spring structure.

In order to accomplish the foregoing objects, I provide a spring in the form of an initially straight Spring steel rod. In place of a single cam roller at the center of the spring, I provide two cam rollers at the ends of the spring and anchor the central portion of the spring. The spring is readily assembled with the rollers merely by flexing the central portion of the spring over an anchor or abutment formed on one hinge part, and after the hinge parts are pinned together. The spring force exerted by the two rollers in parallel is adequately high since the rollers operate substantially independently at the ends of relatively short spring arms. Since the spring comprises a single rod, it is compactly accommodated between the hinge leaves.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the 3,431,587 Patented Mar. ll, 1969 re ll invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification, and which drawings are true scale. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of fragmentary parts of a cabinet structure incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the plane corresponding to line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the cabinet door in open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 44 of FIG. 1, an alternate position of the cam element being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane corresponding to line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but taken along a parallel plane corresponding to line 77 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view of the cam element assembly.

Detailed description In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a cabinet frame 10 having an opening 12. A door 14 is mounted to be moved to an abutting closed position relative to the opening and to an open position. For this purpose, two hinges are provided, one of which 16 is illustrated in the drawings. The hinge 16 comprises a pair of leaves 18 and 20 (FIG. 2). The hinge leaves have suitable strap portions 22 and 24 attached to the frame and door parts. The strap portion 22 is secured to the outer surface of the frame 10 as by the aid of screws 26. The strap portion 24 is designed to be attached to the rear surface of the door 14, screws 28 being provided for this purpose.

The hinge leaf 18 has axially spaced aligned knuckle parts 30 and 32 (FIG. 1) that receive between them the knuckle part 34 of the companion hinge leaf 20. A hinge pin 36 (FIG. 2) is received by the knuckle parts and joins the hinge leaves for movement in a conventional manner.

As shown in FIG. 6, the knuckle parts 30 and 32 are offset outwardly from the strap 22. Thus the knuckle parts 30 and 32 are formed as curls at the ends of legs 38 and 40. The intermediate knuckle part 34 is likewise formed as a curl at the end of a leg 42.

In order to provide a positive closing force, the knuckle parts 30 and 32 have cam latch surfaces, as at 44 (FIG. 4). The companion hinge leaf 20 carries a pair of cam elements or rollers 46 and 48 that are resiliently urged to move laterally toward the axis of the hinge pin 36 and into engagement with the exterior surface of the knuckles 30 and 32, respectively. The exterior surface of the knuckles 30 and 32 is substantially cylindrical, as shown in FIG. 4. However, at their ends, the cam surfaces, as at 44, are formed. Both are identical, and a description of one will serve as a description of the others.

The flat surface 44 extends substantially as a chord from a line 50 forming the boundary between the cylindrical surface of the knuckle and the cam surface. The distance of the cam surface 44 from the axis of the hinge pin progressively reduces from this boundary line. Accordingly, the energy urging the cam element 46 inwardly can be partially expended as the cam part moves along the surface 44. Hence once the roller 46 engages the cam surface, it tends to move further, and a latching function is provided. The cam surface 44 is so located that the cam element 46 moves past the boundary line 50 when the door 14 is almost closed.

The hinge leaf 18 of course is fixed while the leaf 20 carrying the spring rod 56 is free to move. The only spring force tending to move the leaf 2G is the reaction on the ends of the rod 56. Since the cam part 46 is circular (FIG. 4) and the surface 44 is flat, the line of action and reaction 52 must pass through the center of the cam part 56 and through the point of contact with the knuckles. If this line passes through the pivot axis of leaf 20, no turning torque results. The surface 44 extends substantially as a chord of an imaginary circle in part bounded by the external cylindrical surface of the knuckle 30 and centered about the hinge pin 36. The strap attachments for the hinge leaves are so formed (FIG. 2) that the cam part 56 in the closed position of FIG. 4 (full line position) has not yet reached the center of the imaginary chord. Accordingly, the line of action 52 passes on one side of the center of the hinge pin 36. Thus, there is a lever arm corresponding to the distance between the center of the hinge pin 36 and the line of action 52, and a rotating torque is produced. Since the line of action 52 is directed upwardly and to the right of the hinge pin center, a counter-clockwise torque results corresponding to movement of the hinge leaf 2i) further towards closed position. There is thus a force tending to maintain the door closed, and there is no slack at the closed position. A pad, such as at 54 (FIGS. 1 and 2), located at the opening 12 opposite the hinge 16, serves to stop movement of the door 14.

As the door 14 and the hinge leaf 20 are moved outwardly, the cam elements 46 and 48 pass the crests or lines 50 and engage the cylindrical external surface of the knuckle 30. At this point the line of reaction on the cam part 46 passes precisely through the axis of the hinge pin 36. Accordingly, no further torque in either direction is exerted on the hinge leaf 20 or door 14. However, a certain frictional drag will exist due to the interaction of the cam elements 46 and 48 with the knuckles 30 and 32. However, by making the cam parts 46 and 48 of low friction material such as Teflon, and by providing for their rolling action, this friction is minimized. The ends of the spring 56 indirectly engage the cam surfaces, the cam parts 46 and 48 being interposed primary to avoid wear that would result if the spring ends directly engaged the cam surfaces.

The cam parts 46 and 48 are carried at the ends of a spring steel rod 56. The spring steel rod is normally straight, as shown in FIG. 8. However, the central portion of the rod or spring 56, as shown particularly in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, is caught beneath an angled post 58 which projects from the leg 42 of the hinge leaf 20. The inner or under surface of the post 58 is so located with respect to the hinge axis as to cause a lateral deflection in the spring 56 when the cam elements 46 and 48 engage their respective knuckles. This provides the requisite spring force for the cam elements 46 and 48 to engage the knuckles. In order to assemble the spring 56 with its rollers 46 and 48, it is merely necessary to position the rollers 46 and 48 against the knuckles 30 and 32 of the assembled hinge leaves and then flex the central portion of the rod over the post 58.

The cam parts 46 and 48 act at rather short lever arms corresponding to half the length of the rod 56. Accordingly, these cam parts 46 and 48 exert substantial pressures adequate to ensure sufiicient torque for closing the door 14.

In place of the separate post 58, the leg 42 could be provided with an integrally struck-out portion suitable to serve as an anchor or fulcrum. The spring 56 is formed merely as a single length of spring steel material. It is compactly accommodated between the hinge leaves 18 and 20. The spring and cam elements obviously can be mounted on either hinge leaf, while the cam surface is formed on the other.

The inventor claims:

1. A self-closing hinge structure having two leaves, each of said leaves having provisions for attachment to relatively swingable cabinet elements; said provisions determining an angular relationship between said leaves corresponding to closed position of said cabinet elements; one of said hinge leaves having a pair of axially aligned knuckle parts at opposite ends thereof; pin means mounting the other of said hinge leaves for pivotal movement about the axis of said aligned knuckle parts; a spring rod having ends frictionally engaging the external surfaces of said knuckle parts respectively and otherwise free of said knuckle parts whereby said ends track along said knuckle parts upon relative angular movement between said hinge leaves; anchor means formed on said other hinge leaf engaging the central portion of said spring rod and bowing it toward the axis of said knuckle parts whereby said spring rod ends exert substantial contact forces on said knuckle parts; the external surfaces of said knuckle parts along which said ends track each including a substantially cylindrical section and an adjoining cam surface that slopes inwardly from the end of said cylindrical section toward the hinge axis; the cam surfaces of said knuckle parts being located so that the reaction on said rod ends when said hinge leaves are at said closed angular position is directed to one side of the hinge axis to provide a torque maintaining said elements in closed position.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 together with antifriction means interposed between the ends of said spring rod and said knuckle parts.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said antifriction means comprise substantially tubular cam elements having cylindrical exterior configurations, and fitted on the ends of said spring rod.

4. A self-closing hinge structure having two leaves, each leaf having provisions for attachment to relatively swingable cabinet elements; said provisions determining an angular relationship between said leaves corresponding to closed position of said cabinet elements; one leaf having a pair of aligned axially spaced knuckles; the other leaf having a knuckle interposed between the knuckles of said one leaf; a hinge pin interconnecting said knuckles; said knuckles of said first leaf having peripherally extending surfaces each including a cylindrical part and an adjoining non-cylindrical part, the non-cylindrical part, from the place where it adjoins said cylindrical part, extending inwardly toward said pin and defining cam surfaces; a spring rod; anchor means carried by said other leaf and engaging the central portion of said spring rod; said spring rod being oriented so as to extend substantially parallel to said pin with the ends of said spring opposed to the said knuckles of said one leaf; antifriction cam elements mounted on the ends of said spring rod and frictionally engaging said knuckle surfaces of said one leaf and tracking along said knuckle surfaces as said leaves are angularly moved; said anchor means defleeting the said central portion of said spring rod to cause said ends of said spring rods to exert spring forces on said knuckle surfaces; said cam surfaces of said knuckle parts being located so that the reaction on said cam elements when said leaves are at said closed angular position is directed to one side of the hinge axis to provide a torque maintaining said elements in closed position.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said antifriction cam elements are formed as substantially tubular plastic parts fitted on the ends of said spring rod.

(References on following page) 5 FOREIGN PATENTS US. Cl. X.R. 1675, 180

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Day 161 80 Dexter. Bowers.

Scott 16-145 

